Does Daylight Saving Time Cause Heart Attacks?

Investigators reported an association between heart attacks (also called myocardial infarction) and switching to DST in the spring. Their report indicates that heart attacks among Swedish men and women increase by 5% during the first few weekdays after the clocks are advanced one hour in the spring for DST. This effect is partially reversed in the fall, when the incidence of heart attacks drops slightly after clocks are set back to standard time.

Does this mean that DST time is a public menace and should be abandoned? No. (As an Ohio farmer once explained to me, his corn crop really appreciates the extra hour of sunlight provided by DST - and it's hard to argue with logic like that.)

What this report actually means is that there is a link between sleep deprivation and cardiovascular problems. We've known about this link for a long time. But typically, sleep deprivation - an extremely common and almost "normal" phenomenon in modern society - occurs randomly among the population. In contrast, when we begin DST in the spring, we are systematically coordinating a night of sleep deprivation (and a few days of sleep-cycle readjustment) for a few billion people around the world simultaneously, which gives us an opportunity to observe and measure the effects of sleep deprivation across a large number of people. When we do so, we can see that sleep deprivation, in general, poses health risks.

So this study doesn't so much indicate that DST is a bad idea, but rather, points out that even a relatively minor sleep-disruptive event such as this one can have health consequences. What this study really means is that we should all pay more attention to our sleep cycles, do our best to get enough sleep, and try to avoid unnecessary disruptions in our sleep patterns.

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Some Facts about Cardiac Arrhythmias

What are Cardiac Arrhythmias?

Cardiac arrhythmias, also commonly called arrhythmias, are irregularities of the heart beat. For the most part, the normal, constant rhythm of the heartbeat that ensures essential blood flow throughout the body goes unnoticed.

But for some people, problems arise as the electrical impulses that synchronize the heart beat don’t function properly, causing the heart to beat out of rhythm - too quickly, too slowly or with an irregular pattern.

Arrhythmias are fairly common. Most people have had at least one experience where it feels as if the heart has skipped a beat, or has given an unexpected flutter. For many, the experience is usually not cause for concern. However, while many arrhythmias are harmless, some can be extremely dangerous and require medical treatment.

Help for Cardiac Arrhythmias:

If you have been diagnosed with an arrhythmia, treatment may or may not be necessary, depending on the cause, the severity and type of arrhythmia. For some people, arrhythmias are easily managed with a few lifestyle modifications and are little cause for concern. However, if your doctor suspects that the arrhythmia may cause serious symptoms, or that it may result in complications, medical treatment will be necessary.

By eating a heart-healthy diet, following a regular exercise plan, and reducing the intake of alcohol and caffeine, the occurrence of arrhythmias can be greatly reduced and prevented. If you do smoke, consider quitting smoking naturally, as tobacco is a known trigger of a number of health concerns related to the heart.

In addition, there are many natural herbal and homeopathic remedies available that can be successfully used as part of a holistic treatment program for optimal heart health

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